1. Eddy Ferguson, Community Regeneration Manager November 2016
Providing Local Opportunities for Young People: Employment and Training
Eddy Ferguson, Community Regeneration Manager
November 2016

2. EHRA - Modern Housing Apprentices
Blairtummock Housing Association worked to created an office based apprenticeship programme
This began in 2008 and continues to be successful

3. Background
Blairtummock HA are a medium sized community controlled housing association in the Easterhouse Area. We have 724 rented properties, 24 shared ownership and 45 factored owners
We operate Blairtummock and Rogerfield Opportunities, a wholly owned charitable subsidiary
Historically, BHA wanted to provide employment opportunities and had attempted to do this in many ways, but all had depended on the goodwill of the Association’s contractors and tasking them with managing apprenticeships and trainee places
This strategy had only had a very limited impact and it was felt something new was required
BHA had heard of work Milnbank HA were doing on office based apprenticeships and wanted to know more

4. Nuts and Bolts
We held discussions with a number of delivery partners locally and decided to work with TIGERS
Blairtummock and TIGERS designed a model and this was then offered to Easterhouse landlords through GECOF (now EHRA)
Each Apprentice on placement for 6 weeks or more through Get Ready for Work
Each Apprentice employed by a RSL for 18 months
Each Apprentice with an in-house Mentor
Given a broad experience of RSL work and completed SVQ in Business Admin during this time – exit interview and training with EVH around interview skills and temp work
Apprentices guaranteed interviews at any EHRA RSL with a relevant vacancy
FUNDING – the project has been funded through People and Communities Fund (initially Wider Role Fund), Trust and Foundations, Glasgow Guarantee (initially Commonwealth Apprentices Initiative), Skills Development Scotland, and from Landlords Contributions.

5. Successes
The initiative is now going into it’s 5th intake of apprentices
Over the years 16 young people have been supported to complete SVQs
All but 2 of the young people have moved on into employment either in the RSL or third sector or onto college or other further education
7 of the 8 Easterhouse Community Controlled RSLs have hosted an office based apprentice
Local Young People have been recruited and we can count a grandchild of one of our committee member in amongst that

6. Blairtummock and Rogerfield Opportunities – Estate Caretakers
Blairtummock Housing Association worked to created an Estate Caretakers team through its BRO subsidiary
This began in July 2015

7. Estate Caretakers Initiative
During 2014 BHA began the process that would lead to the transformation of its subsidiary company “Blairtummock Community Hall” into “Blairtummock and Rogerfield Opportunities”
The purpose of this was to allow the subsidiary to add the oversight of a team of Estate Caretakers to its remit, with the aim of
Creating employment and training opportunities for local people, by..
Bringing Close Cleaning and Grounds Maintenance Contracts back into the group, and having Ad Hoc Works and Capital Works to backcourts completed by them
The first employee started in July 2015, quickly joined by 2 Estate Caretakers and the final team members, our 2 Apprentices joined us in August 2016

8. Estate Caretakers - Apprentices
Early 2016 BRO began process of recruiting apprentices
Work placements through local partners of varying lengths 2-6 weeks, leading to..
Employment of Apprentices for 18 months, gaining broad experience in the team
SVQ in Facilities Management
A further intake of apprentices will be taken on after the current ones finish
The first apprentices Michael and Shelby began work in August 2016 and have already made a positive difference to the team
MODEL: We are working with our delivery partners TIGERS to oversee the SVQ and provide any support required to complete the necessary portfolio

9. Estate Caretakers - Funding
The initiative operates very much on a social enterprise basis
Small sums of money were raised through grants from Glasgow City Council and Scottish Community Foundation for equipment totalling around £10k
A wage subsidy for each apprentice should come from Glasgow Guarantee
Most revenue costs are met from the income gained from the two contracts, capital backcourts improvements and other works undertaken for BHA

10. Successes
Local people have gained employment, one Estate Caretaker being a tenant of BHA and both apprentices being from Easterhouse and East End
The standards in close cleaning and grounds maintenance have improved or been maintained in all of the places we work
The team have been very successful in responding to the Associations priorities and helping to clear voids quickly, cutting re-let times
Waste to landfill has been reduced through working in partnership Re- Connect (local social enterprise) to Upcycle from void clearances and establishing a composting site for garden and grounds waste

11. Contact Details: Contact:
Eddy Ferguson, Community Regeneration Manager